Greensboro, North Carolina (April 6, 2017) – Ashley Stewart and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University announced today the launch of the Ashley Stewart Leadership Scholarship, an initiative developed to help empower women through education.

The scholarship will be awarded to a female student who exemplifies strong leadership skills in the business and economics disciplines at the university and who demonstrates stewardship in her community. In addition to a $10,000 scholarship, the recipient will be invited to New York City for the “Finding Ashley Stewart 2017” finale in September, where she will be honored.

In conjunction with the launch of the Ashley Stewart Scholarship, N.C. A&T will offer a dynamic series of educational events with Ashley Stewart during the Big Ideas Conference on Thursday, April 20. Ashley Stewart’s Executive Chairman and CEO, James Rhee, will host a Private Equity Workshop for students to learn how to value and invest in brands. Rhee will also be featured at a dinner and fireside chat with Patricia Miller Zollar, managing director at Neuberger Berman, which will be moderated by Detavio Samuels, president of Interactive One and One Solution.

The fireside chat will be broadcast on Facebook Live and YouTube Live by Ashley Stewart and N.C. A&T. RSVP TODAY: http://bit.ly/2oKvU8C

From April 24, 2017 to May 26, 2017, students can apply for the Leadership Scholarship by submitting an application and essay describing how they demonstrate leadership qualities. Starting May 29, 2017 to June 16, 2017, A&T will identify 10 applicants, review their academics and verify financial need. Each finalist will then be invited to submit a one-minute video about herself, which will be reviewed by the Ashley Stewart team.

The scholarship recipient will be awarded at the grand finale of the “Finding Ashley Stewart 2017” tour at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, on Sept. 16, 2017. The “Finding Ashley Stewart Finale” is the culmination of an eight-month tour taking place across Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Tampa, and New Jersey that seeks to find women that embody the values of the Ashley Stewart brand: confidence, perseverance, and empowerment. The event will also feature a celebrity performance and is sponsored by the hair care brand Creme of Nature.

Ashley Stewart has captured the hearts and minds of curvy women since its founding in 1991 in Brooklyn, New York. Today, Ashley Stewart offers the hottest looks with stores across the United States, a rapidly growing ecommerce presence at http://www.AshleyStewart.com, and an industry leading social media presence. Ashley Stewart stands for uncompromising style, fashion, fit and empowerment for the trend-savvy woman who flaunts her curves. From the perfect pair of jeans to churchflow dresses, smoking hot outfits to #DaretoBare intimates, Ashley Stewart has you covered.